Creating An Ecosystem Simulation Game In 6 Months

Creating An Ecosystem Simulation Game In 6 Months

In this video, I detail my process of prototyping an Ecosystem Simulation Game by showing a broader step-by-step process of how I create it. Then I run a couple simulations and watch the creatures go through the process of evolution and share a few of my personal thoughts and mental struggles that accompanied me on this journey.

GAME IS OUT (IN DEMO)! Play below:

Further Reading - BEST books on Ecosystems and Agent-based Modeling:

Chapters:
0:00 Intro/Exposition
2:14 Beginning the project
2:55 Designing the creature
5:36 An Important lesson from Coevolution
7:47 Designing the plants
9:20 Procedurally generated terrain
10:17 How it works
11:46 Simulations

Additional Information/Disclaimer:
Currently, the phenotypes of the creatures aren't procedural enough as there are only 5 possible torsos, with varying degrees of Storage. This may skew the weight, which impacts the speed. I'll fix this if I ever do a part two.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy the video!

[eddie.z]

Hi all thanks for watching!

I want to address some things that could clarify some stuff.

I received a bit of constructive criticism with the video

- Overly pretentious
Agree, I will tone it down next video

- Video footage seems off
That's my bad, it was a period of about 6 months and I forgot about alot of the footage/they were lost. If this ever happens again I will use relevant footage

- Redundant
Agree, I'll tackle a unique angle of this niche if I ever am to do another video on this topic.

I also received some questions

- Will the game be a full release?
nope, it's just a small interactive simulator you and your friends will be able to use

- Source Code?
yeah... I don't know when this will happen, but i'll make sure to do it

- Long term project?
I plan on providing support for bugs, but no more updates for now. People have done insanely good things with ecosystem simulators already


So yeah thanks for the support too, hope this clarifies some things up, if you have any extra comments/concerns add I'll add it to this list.

[skylinedev]

I love the ending so much. - "Through out this project, I was constantly wondering whether it is all worth it. My community was desperate waiting for new video for over 6 months, friends are wondering whether I am making something, and most importantly there were tons of other games and simulations that are much better. So, why should I even try? But at the very end, after all the trials and tribulations, seen all the progress and beautiful thing I accomplished. Most importantly, creating something I am proud of i can share with the world. I realized that even that was not the best, the experience, the knowledge, and the memories would be all well worth it. " 😀

[brainbroad]

After watching the whole video, I might be able to explain why it is difficult for more cycles to persist. It is the size of the map.

The map is too small to support a complex community that you are looking for. The more space you have, the more land to forage, hunt and recover. With such limited space, your populations are naturally become unstable due to the limited resources. The larger the map, the easier a plant can recover from overharvesting as the herbivores take over and will succumb to the predators.

There is an interesting thing to note that drives this point home is the shrinking of your herbivores. This is a classic example of insular dwarfism. Probaby since your bodysize stat accounts for food storage, it was beneficial for the ai to shrink.

Insular dwarfism occurs as an organism will shrink compared to their relatives to adapt to limited resources. Great living examples are Key Deer, a subspecies of White Tailed Deer found in the Fla Keys and will rarely get as tall as your waist, however most examples are no longer with us due to humans

[Penndemonium]

12:10 these creatures were like "ha! food too far away? simple. just teleport." and i admire them for that

12:46 OMG THEY DID IT AGAIN. legendary.

[UsmanDev]

Amazing video! Felt like a proper documentary that showcased your simulation. Great work

[ilaik]

If you keep going you chanel is going to blow up. Please keep doing this series.

[lucasinatur]

You could add something like biomes or different properties for different areas like "humid" or "desert".

[brainbroad]

I love the inclusion of plant evolution to adapt to herbivores. One my favorite examples is the (now extinct) moa and lancewood trees. You see, Moa were the apex plant eater in NZ acting as elephant and deer, with a wide ranging diet and long reach for leaves. Their voracious appetite lead to one of the very few examples in ontogenic dimorphism in plant morphology. This means the body and parts of the tree change as it ages! The lancewoods start their lives with leaves filled with defenses to protect it from being chewed up by the birds. The leaves have a silica glass in their sap rich with poison to tear the throats of the bird, and the leaf structure was more like the front of a swordfish. However as the tree reached a height above the grasp of the moa, the leaf shape would change to finally fill the canopy without worry of predation!

[rystal]

this is an absolute piece of art, the editing is SO FREAKING GOOD

[rauldrac]

I always have so much fun looking at this kind of videos were someone makes a virtual ecosystem and explain the mechanics behind it. I encourage you to do more of this.

[noelhermann]

I just love stumbling upon videos like that just blow my mind. Its not only an inspiration for people that code / develope things but also entertainment. I love the editing, the content and the way you deliver it. Very glad i came by this channel and i really hope (if thats what you aim for) that its gonna blow up and you can inspire more people with your content. Keep going my man, you really got the guts for it.

[ThatKnife]

Definitely something I would not finish, probably not start either because I'd know I couldn't even get 1/4 of the way. Proud of you, good job.

[hallucinatinghawk]

This is truly awesome. I’m into biology, terrariums, and video games. Perfect!

[Rogvaldr]

Yeah! Just go for it man! This video was beautifully documented. It was an absolute delight to watch and glad to see you're still making amazing things. I can only dream of making something like this in the distant future. I can't imagine the amount of work that went into learning how to make this simulation and detailing the video...It was totally worth it! Let nothing stop you!

[HimitsuHunter]

One thing you could try is having the Predators and prey have a mechanism to swap between behaviors. Predators that can become herbivores and herbivores that can become predatory.

And probably you can add a mechanism that lets the plants reward the predators for preying on herbivores.

Those 2 things would likely stabilize your ecosystem and make it more dynamic as well.

[shadowcraftersr]

Even just seeing the intro I can see you put much effort into this. Definitely gonna watch til the end!

[MC_CN]

Your production levels are on a quality similar to that of /Disrupt or Inside A Mind!
Keep it up!

[Rotaka]

Fascinating idea and incredibly well-made, too! I love the production quality, looking forward to your next video ! :)

[Munchni]

severely underrated video, you’re a natural at making compelling and entertaining vids. Look forward to more :]

[novakain]

please do not end this project. evolution has no end, and therefore this has endless possibilities. id love a speculative evolution simulation based game, like if this game and spore have a love child.